Roosters will struggle to go back to back: Maloney

Dual premiership winner James Maloney knows how difficult it is to win back-to-back titles, which is why he believes the Sydney Roosters will struggle to create their own slice of history and win successive premierships.

Hours after the Roosters triumphed 20-8 against Wigan in the World Club Challenge Maloney said there was a simple reason no team had triumphed two years in a row in a quarter of a century.

Sydney Roosters' Jared Waerea-Hargreaves charges the ball up against Wigan.Credit:PA

"I don't think [25 years] is a coincidence," Maloney said.

"You can block it out and say 'whatever', but it hasn't been done so long for a reason.

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"They'll have a really good side and they'll be tough to beat, but history says it's tough to do.

"As much as people say you've still got the hunger, it's hard when you actually achieve what you try do all year and finally get it.

"You don't get an easy game the next year. And everyone who plays the Roosters this year, they're last year's premiers, so whether you're running second or 16th, you'll play your best game of footy against them."

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Maloney won the premiership in 2013 with the Roosters, then went within 80 minutes of the grand final the following season, only to lose to eventual premiers and bitter rivals South Sydney.

He also played a huge role in Cronulla's historic 2016 title, then finished fifth in 2017 and bombed out to North Queensland in week one of the finals.

The Roosters remain $4.50 favourites with the bookies, and looked impressive, especially the first half against Wigan on Monday morning.

New recruit Brett Morris bagged three tries as a centre in the perfect debut for the tri-colours.

His famous father Steve, who joined the Roosters from St George in 1987, watched the action from the Sunshine Coast and hoped big things were on the horizon for his 32-year-old son.

"I missed the first two minutes, but they might start calling him 'Slippery' because he was sliding through them and had so much strength,'' Morris told the Herald.

"It was a great debut. I didn't expect him to get three tries. I thought he even got a fourth one just before half-time.

"Their outside backs get good service from their halves, and they seem to give them a lot more room to move. I'm not taking anything away from Canterbury, but he seemed to have a lot more room.

"Hopefully he can do that all year and the Roosters have a good year. There's pressure on the premiers, but they looked good.

"I remember I went to the Roosters, I turned 30 that year, I was getting to the veteran age, but we nearly won the comp that season, and going to a new club it was like a new lease of life.

"It can revitalise you, for sure, it's all new. He's not doing the same thing and as long as he doesn't get injured, hopefully he can have a couple of good years there."